North Broward Hosp. Dist. v. Finkelstein, 83-1571
Citation | 456 So.2d 498 |
Decision Date | 29 August 1984 |
Docket Number | No. 83-1571,83-1571 |
Parties | NORTH BROWARD HOSPITAL DISTRICT d/b/a Broward General Medical Center, and Jennie Poore, CRNA, Appellants, v. Nancy FINKELSTEIN and Alexander Finkelstein, her husband, Appellees. |
Court | Court of Appeal of Florida (US) |
Ellen Mills Gibbs of Gibbs & Zei, and William D. Ricker, Jr., of Fleming, O'Bryan & Fleming, Fort Lauderdale, for appellants.
Stuart Z. Grossman of Spence, Payne, Masington & Grossman, and Joel D. Eaton of Podhurst, Orseck, Parks, Josefsberg, Eaton, Meadow & Olin, Miami, for appellees.
Mr. and Mrs. Finkelstein sued appellants for medical malpractice and received a judgment in their favor. The judgment reserved jurisdiction for the taxation of costs. It did not reserve jurisdiction for an award of attorney's fees.
After entry of judgment, and after it had become final through passage of time, the Finkelsteins made a motion to assess attorney's fees. The amount of $25,000.00 was awarded. Appellants are aggrieved. This appeal ensued. We reverse.
We hold that the trial court is without jurisdiction to make an award of attorney's fees after entry of final judgment, and that judgment has become final through passage of time, if that judgment does not expressly provide for a reservation of jurisdiction for that purpose. Jackson v. Jackson, 390 So.2d 787 (Fla. 1st DCA 1980); Oyer v. Boyer, 383 So.2d 717 (Fla. 4th DCA 1980); Frumkes v. Frumkes, 328 So.2d 34 (Fla. 3d DCA 1976). But see Young v. Altenhaus, 448 So.2d 1039 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983).
Except for the jurisdictional flaw, the Finkelsteins would clearly be entitled to attorney's fees under the provisions of Section 768.56, Florida Statutes (1983), inasmuch as they were the prevailing parties in a medical malpractice action.
How could this problem have been avoided? Of course, the trial court could and should have reserved jurisdiction to award attorney's fees. On the other hand, counsel could have called the omission to the trial court's attention by a timely motion under the provisions of Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.530. Perhaps, depending on the facts, a remedy could be found under Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.540.
Finally, an appeal of the final judgment could have been lodged because of its failure to award attorney's fees or reserve jurisdiction for that purpose. Such appeal would be premised upon the notion that once a final judgment is rendered on the merits...
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Finkelstein v. North Broward Hosp. Dist.
...of Fleming, O'Bryan and Fleming, Ft. Lauderdale, for respondents. ADKINS, Justice. We have for review North Broward Hospital District v. Finkelstein, 456 So.2d 498 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984), which directly and expressly conflicts with Young v. Altenhaus, 448 So.2d 1039 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983), quashed......
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Frisard v. Frisard, 84-786
...attorney's fees because the final judgment failed to reverse jurisdiction for that purpose. As noted in North Broward Hospital District v. Finkelstein, 456 So.2d 498 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984), "the trial court is without jurisdiction to make an award of attorney's fees after entry of final judgme......
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Folta v. Bolton, 84-3219
...jurisdiction to award attorney's fees to either party. In support of their position, appellees cite North Broward Hospital District v. Finkelstein, 456 So.2d 498 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984), where the Fourth District Court of Appeals held that where final judgment in a medical malpractice case fail......
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Compton v. Gator Office Supply and Furniture, Inc., 84-1902
...to award attorney's fees, however, we reverse the award of attorney's fees in favor of appellee. See North Broward Hospital District v. Finkelstein, 456 So.2d 498 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984). AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND HURLEY and BARKETT, JJ., and WESSEL, JOHN D., Associate Judge, conc......